What Can We Learn From the ‘Sex and the City’ Reboot?

And just like that, Sex and the City is coming back!

A 10-episode revival will include 3 members of the original cast: Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, and Kristin Davis. Those of us “in the know”, are not surprised that Kim Cattrall won’t return to her role as Samantha Jones. I get it, she’s not ready to bury the hatchet with the cast.

As friends in my head, I can’t help but wonder…… is there a best way to designate our agents? Are there some people better suited for some roles? What factors should we take into consideration when assigning agents? (read in Carrie Bradshaw’s voice lol)

So, after considering my three options (Samantha is dead to me) for my estate planning agents, I’ve come to the following advanced directives decisions.

Miranda and Carrie, acting jointly as my Power of Attorney – this will be a person that can make financial decisions on my behalf should I not be available to make them. I would make their powers joint as a checks and balance as this is a very powerful role. They will need to act together to access my assets.

Charlotte as my Health Care Proxy – this will be a person that will make health-related decisions on my behalf should I not be available to make them. The most compassionate of my friend group, she’ll make hard decisions and stay positive throughout. Carrie as my backup Health Care proxy, in the event that Charlotte needs a minute.

Carrie as my Personal Representative (Executor) – this will be a person that will administer my estate, the executor of my last will. This is a very temporary role, the last will gets opened and closed with the Courts. Carrie is reliable and trustworthy; she’ll ensure that my last wishes are adhered to.

Miranda as my Trustee – this will be the person that administers my trust, an on-going role. She’s a lawyer, familiar with some of these terms. Also, she can’t be pushed around by my kids/beneficiaries.

Charlotte as the Physical Guardian and Miranda as the Financial Guardian– this will be the person that raises my rug-rats. I’d split these roles so that the munchkins live with Charlotte, but Miranda handles the financials on the children’s behalf.

There you have it, a way to look at advanced directives through the lens of Sex and the City. No one asked for it, but you got it anyway LOL.

And I’ll leave you with one final thought, while we mostly include our immediate family in our estate plan, friends are often a great resource. In the famous words of Carrie Bradshaw, “they say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style.”